NEVER FORGET THEIR NAME | Dustin John Higgs: On January 16, 2021, Dustin John Higgs was executed by the United States Federal Government, becoming the thirteenth and last federal death row inmate to be executed since the Federal Department reinstated executions in July of 2019 after a 17-year respite. He was accused and convicted of kidnapping and murdering three women, Tamika Black, 19; Tanji Jackson, 21; and Mishann Chinn, 23 in 1996. Although he was just sitting in the car unaware of his friend murdering the women at a wildlife refuge in Maryland, he was charged with masterminding the kidnapping and murder. However, his case was riddled with faulty and insubstantial evidence, and the actual murderer even provided an affidavit pleading Higgs’ innocence. Nonetheless, on October 11, 2000, a Maryland jury found Higgs guilty and unanimously recommended him nine death sentences. His appeals and challenges failed and the ruling was eventually affirmed roughly 17 years ago. What’s more, the real gunman was only sentenced to life in prison while a man sitting in a car with no blood on his hands, Dustin Higgs, was executed by our federal government. Although Dustin Higgs is already dead, we must remember his name and story so that we can pick out issues with our country’s broken criminal justice system and make sure another person does not have to be wrongfully executed before change occurs. Fortunately, President Biden, along with 40 members of Congress, have spoken about abolishing the federal death penalty and incentivizing states to stop using capital punishment in their criminal justice initiative, all helping to stop any more wrongfully convicted inmates from losing their lives!

TAKE ACTION:

We are often faced with countless petitions and phone numbers to call to stop the executions of offenders through capital punishment. After taking these actions of calling and signing, it can be hard to know what impact we make. Does our individual actions truly make a difference when facing the death penalty? The death penalty is inherently flawed: defined by bias and targeting the most vulnerable people. We argue that taking these actions do help; they show a strong opposition to the death penalty while trying to stop individuals from being sentenced. It is impractical to expect that structural change occurs immediately, but the goal is to keep chipping away at the problem to ultimately arrive at the change you want to see. Here are two organizations that work to reform the criminal justice system: The Equal Justice Initiative and the Innocence Project. If you ever feel like your actions are solitary, please visit these organizations’ websites to learn about more action that is being taken and how to be a part of it. Click on the button for access Equal Justice Initiative’s page on the death penalty. Click on the image to get involved with the Innocence Project!